Presidential election candidate David Norris is at the centre of another storm – this time over a disability allowance paid by Trinity College while he was employed as a full-time Senator in the upper house of the Irish parliament.
Norris has confirmed to the Irish Independent newspaper that he drew down the payment for 16 years while he was out of work at the college but employed by the Senate.
The Independent candidate’s election campaign has been rocked by a series of scandal with the latest newspaper claims again set to embarrass the 67-year-old.
Now retired from his Trinity lecturing job, Norris receives a monthly pension worth over $3,000 from the Dublin university.
A senator since 1987, he has refused to confirm how much he received in the disability allowance funding over a 16 year period from 1994.
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“It was around a quarter of my salary but I wasn’t getting anything like they get now,” Norris told the Irish Independent.
The disability payment only ended in July 2010 when Norris reached the retirement age. Senator Norris currently receives an annual salary and expense package worth over $100,000 from the Irish senate.
Insisting to the paper that he is in ‘perfect health’, Norris also refused to reveal the nature or extent of his disability.
“It will not stand in the way of me becoming President, I am in perfect health,” insisted Norris.
He then added: “And if you look at my Seanad (senate) record you see that. I hope we’re not going down the medical route of all this but I will do any medical test you want. I just think this is getting daft. It shows how open I am, my life is an open book.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.sirpeter | Oct 05, 2011, 10:54 PM EDT
Ha Ha.Creakygate be careful if you have a soft spot for Dorris.Don't turn your back the guy will even mount an old age pensioner.haha
bunkerisland | Oct 05, 2011, 09:32 PM EDT
Please close the "open book" regarding your life. Who cares?
stanJames | Oct 05, 2011, 06:25 PM EDT
Given how well IC has reported on the crimes of the Catholic church, why are you playing spin doctor for the church of the endless hidden molestation of children. Shame Shame Shame
nobumchumsforpr | Oct 05, 2011, 05:52 PM EDT
He is disabled, he is gay.
LoyalCitizen | Oct 05, 2011, 11:44 AM EDT
@Trealach: My comments are derived by Irish Media over the last year or so and if I could get access to the accounts I would be able to check out the facts.... I do on the other hand do not consider that you get access to their personal accounts that you might want to take a dose of your own medicine....."Legally entitled to" is very disputable in a country that uses opinions in law to steal from social welfare recipients and nobody gets protection by law......If you check on this site you find another story concerning David Norris and his boyfriends where it states he working at teaching to help a friend while collecting the disability which makes it a fraud. He was also working as a senator while collecting disability and to make matters worse he has been on countless television programs in Ireland while collecting disability. For a disabled person with potential liver transplants in the future he is very fit. The guy is a conman who can easily mislead fools like you.
Daytonavejim | Oct 05, 2011, 10:46 AM EDT
I am not surprised. I think most politicians are disabled.
johhnyb | Oct 05, 2011, 09:34 AM EDT
You are certainly dragging up the dirt on Norris. He must be grateful that he was never involved in violence. Think what you would be saying about any candidate caught at that!
LoyalCitizen | Oct 05, 2011, 09:26 AM EDT
Micheal martin collects a salary as a teacher and so does Mary Hanafin. David Norris being a pretentious teacher (lecturer) collects disability...........Is education in Ireland just a way of getting more advanced crooks with a better education?
Towngate | Oct 05, 2011, 09:20 AM EDT
Yada Yada,you know this is low-life muck-raking Cathal, and unworthy of you. If you must write this stuff, at least find out the Disability! Find out if he was properly Entitled! Shame on you. You must be 'under orders' to slag anyone but McGuinness!